Harry happening
His car can't fly, but with the right movie magic you may think it can.
Bob Douglas, Andover's Conservation director and an admitted softie for the Ford Anglia, will soon have a unique car to add to his collection: a sky-blue Anglia currently on display at the Discovery Museum in New York City's Times Square (see photo, Page 8).
The car is part of "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" — a museum exhibit dedicated to the Harry Potter series. It is a rehashing of a similar Ford Anglia that appeared in the second Harry Potter movie, The Chamber of Secrets. In the movie, several of the actors fly in the Anglia on their way to Hogworts.
"I collect those little cars," Douglas said. "I got contacted by Warner Brothers and they took two of my cars, one of which is in Andover and the other of which is in Harvard, and put it together."
Douglas eventually got a whole car back made up of the worst parts between the two, while the best parts make up the car that's on display right now.
Douglas was happy to help, he said, especially because the exhibit car will be returned to him.
"Even though I didn't make any money for this, I think it will be fun to have," Douglas said. "And, it has a new windshield."
The exhibit opened April 5, and continues until September.
— Dustin Luca
Roof rappeler from Andover
Jon Samel, president of Samel Insurance in Andover, will rappel from the roof of the Hyatt Regency in Boston on Saturday, July 23. Samel will rappel the 24 stories of the hotel to help raise funds for Special Olympic of Massachusetts.
Samel has been an active volunteer with the group for the past 23 years.
No neighbors
Like a neighborhood in transition, Shawsheen Plaza tenants continue to say good-bye. While anchor store Stop & Shop has opened, the retail store Tuesday Morning has closed at the North Main Street Plaza. A sign in the window encourages shoppers to visit their store in Billerica. That makes three empty storefronts at the plaza. Marshalls and Card Smart have also moved out.
A Stop & Shop official could not be reached before the Townsman's deadline.
— Judy Wakefield
Town drops case against Kirkland Drive
A battle in the Northeast Housing Court between the owners of a so-called "blight property" and the town's health department was dropped in court last week after the owners of 27 Kirkland Drive, Mark Santangelo and his mother Mary, cleaned up the property to the town's satisfaction.
"We appeared at the housing court (last week) and we had the case dismissed," Tom Carbone, health director, said.
The Santangelos declined to comment when reached by phone.
Primary to Carbone's concerns about the property was an open-top dumpster on the property and trash that was on the yard, he said. Previously, the court ordered the Santangelos to maintain the dumpster and use it to take care of the trash, which Carbone said they did.
"The yard is cleaned of all trash," Carbone said. "Still has a lot of stuff in the yard, but it doesn't have a public health impact on it."
One resident who was reached for comment, Kirkland Drive resident Al Sotera, said he was still frustrated with the condition of the property, which still has unregistered vehicles on it. Building Inspector Kaija Gilmore, who has been working to get the cars off the property, was unavailable for comment this week. Previously, she has said she's been working with town counsel to possibly resolve the matter.
Kirkland Drive residents frustrated over the condition of the property previously brought two articles to Town Meeting to try creating regulations against "blight properties." Both articles failed when brought to a vote.
— Dustin Luca
PA Applications up
With applications up at Phillips Academy, a personal interview is a must. In response to an unprecedented demand last year for interviews, which resulted in an 11 percent increase in the number of applications received, the Office of Admission now encourages interested students to book an interview promptly.
And, don't forget — Andover and North Andover students don't live on campus. They are day students.
To schedule an interview and tour, call the Phillips Academy Office of Admission at 978-749-4050 or email Vivien Mallick, senior associate dean of admission, at vmallick@andover.edu for more information.
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Are you hearing some talk around town that we didn't catch? Let us know by calling 978-475-7000, or by emailing townsman@andovertownsman.com.
